Almost all newborn infants develop a total serum or plasma bilirubin (TB) value greater than 1 mg/dL (17.1 micromol/L), which is the upper limit of normal for adults. As TB increases, it causes neonatal jaundice, the yellowish discoloration of the skin and/or conjunctiva caused by bilirubin deposition in half of all newborn infants. Neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia (defined as a TB >25 mg/dL [428 micromol/L]) are at risk for bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND), which occurs when bilirubin crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to brain tissue.

To continue reading this article, you must log in with your personal, hospital,
or group practice subscription. For more information or to purchase a personal subscription, click below on
the option that best describes you: